Day 63 Helaman 1

 Happy Thanksgiving 2025

In Helaman Chapter 1, I read about continuing War, people dying, and changing of chief leaders. Coriantumr was killed.

Today is Thanksgiving.  I read Chapter 1 of Helaman tonight and it's a continuation of the wars between the Nephites and Lamanites, lands captured and re-gained, and slaughter of people, military leaders, and children.  Moronihah took possession once again of Zarahemla.  He allowed the Lamanite Prisoners to leave Zarahemla in peace.  I was thinking today about people, contentions, and what makes or breaks people in relationship, fellowship, community, and even family.  It's obedience to God and righteous living.

Those who obey God and keep his commandments will be protected and be given many blessings.  Those who do not, have a harder time in life, have to overcome much strife, and sometimes permanently suffer in this life as a result of earlier decisions.  The beautiful Gospel Message and Good News however, is that God wants us to be with him.  He wants us to repent, live with righteousness and goodness, he wants us to love and serve one another, and he wants us to live in peace one with another.  I trust in God.  I trust in Him with all I have.  

Likening the Chapter to Myself

I know that we will always have contentions and wars, that we will always have things to overcome because we live in a fallen world.  However, having said this I also know that we who are obedient and keep the commandments will be with Heavenly Father again someday.  Others may pull out of community with us, stop loving us, stop coming to church with us, not stay our friends, or may even find a way to hurt or harm us, but if we are true and faithful, if we love the Lord our God and our neighbor as ourselves, if we have "Faith, Hope and Charity with an eye single to the glory of God", we will be exalted and live with Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and The Holy Ghost, our families, and friends for ETERNITY!

I was talking about this tonight with friends at dinner for Thanksgiving.  We are in such a blessed place as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  We know why we are on this earth, we know where we came from, where we are going, and what our purpose is in this world.  At no other time in history have we been so close to seeing the return of Jesus.  We have a living prophet to lead us and guide us, truth that will never steer us wrong, and no matter what life may give or take from us, "it cannot separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39)